Private Jet Traffic Plunges for Second Inaugural
By Robert Frank | CNBC – 6 hours ago
President Barack Obama's last inauguration broke many records in Washington - including one for private jets.
Gulfstream II (G-1159) (Credit: AP)In
January of 2009, more than 700 private jets swarmed into the D.C. area
to unload throngs of super-rich party-goers and Obama supporters,
including Bruce Springsteen and Shakira.
The jet count marked a
new record and showed how Obama had attracted throngs of millionaire and
billionaire supporters even as he pledged to raise their taxes. There
were so many jets that a runway at Washington Dulles International had
to close so the jets could park.
This year, however, the Gulfstreams will be more scarce.
According to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, only 320 private jets are scheduled to land on local airfields for the inauguration next week. That's less than half of the 2009 inauguration total. Put another way, Obama's Jet-Setter Popularity Index has fallen by more than 50 percent.
The president might be proud to know that there are fewer private jets coming to the ball this year and that he may not be polling as well among G550 owners. They're not exactly his base. He just raised their taxes, after all, and as part of his call to have the rich pay their "fair share" he singled out jet owners for getting unfair "tax breaks."
Still, the president needs the super-rich to help fund the inauguration -- and he's courting them far more assiduously this time around as part of the fundraising effort. In 2009, inauguration donations were capped at $50,000 and corporate donors were banned.
It also includes a "Road Ahead" meeting with members of the president's finance team.
Now THAT may be worth the price of admission -- even for the jet set.
More From CNBC
Gulfstream II (G-1159) (Credit: AP)In
January of 2009, more than 700 private jets swarmed into the D.C. area
to unload throngs of super-rich party-goers and Obama supporters,
including Bruce Springsteen and Shakira. This year, however, the Gulfstreams will be more scarce.
According to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, only 320 private jets are scheduled to land on local airfields for the inauguration next week. That's less than half of the 2009 inauguration total. Put another way, Obama's Jet-Setter Popularity Index has fallen by more than 50 percent.
(Read more: Private Jets Get Bigger, Faster, Cheaper)
A
spokeswoman for the Airports Authority said that about 300 planes are
scheduled to land at Dulles and 10 to 20 at Reagan International. She
said the number is unlikely to change much before next week, since "most
people have reserved their slots." (Read more below the video.)The president might be proud to know that there are fewer private jets coming to the ball this year and that he may not be polling as well among G550 owners. They're not exactly his base. He just raised their taxes, after all, and as part of his call to have the rich pay their "fair share" he singled out jet owners for getting unfair "tax breaks."
Still, the president needs the super-rich to help fund the inauguration -- and he's courting them far more assiduously this time around as part of the fundraising effort. In 2009, inauguration donations were capped at $50,000 and corporate donors were banned.
(Read more: Has Obama Been Good for Millionaires?)
This
time around, the inauguration committee is asking for donations of
$250,000 or more per person and $1 million or more for companies. Those
donors get "premium partner access" to the inauguration festivities,
including four tickets to the inaugural ball, two bleacher seats to the
parade, a VIP reception, and a "Candle Light Celebration" on the night
before the inauguration. It also includes a "Road Ahead" meeting with members of the president's finance team.
Now THAT may be worth the price of admission -- even for the jet set.
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